Automobile bumper and attaching means



April 20 1926.

C. E. KRAUS AUTOMOBILE BUMPER AND ATTACHING mus Original ile April 25,192

CHARLES E. KRAUS INVENTOR Jim ATTORNEY 10 such as wiILenable ot ReissuedApr. 20, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES E. mus, 'OF LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY, ASSIGNOB, BY DIRECT AND MESNE.assmmmnrs, TWO-THIBD S'TO FRED W. KRAUS AND ONE-THIRID TO REUBENBU'L'EENBUIBG, BOTH OF LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY. Y

AUTOMOBILE BUMPER AND ATTACHING MEANS.

I Original No. 1,587,478, dated Kay 12, 1925, Serial No. 708,854, filedApril 25, 1824. Application for reissue filed March 1, 1928. Serial No.91,686.

State of Kentucky, "have invented certain new and useful Improvements inAutomobile Bumpers and Attaching Means, and hereby declare the followingto be a full, clear, and'exact descri tion of the invention, liersskilled in the art to which it appertains to .make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in automobile bumpers andattaching means therefor, and has for its object the provision of abumper or similar protecting impact bar "for either the front or rear ofautomobiles which will be simple .of construction, economical tomanufacture, and readily apzo plied to an automobile, ,besides beingneat .and distinctive'in appearance.

One of the principalobjects of this inventisn is the provision in anautomobile bumper, of arm support attachingelements whereby the same maybe readily aflixed to the chassis of an automobile wvithout thenecessity of drilling any holes in the side frames, or-of making anychanges "whatsoever in the constniction and arrangement of the chassissprings and other parts thereof.

Still another object of this invention is the provision of attaching andsupporting elements for automobile bumpers or the like comprising clampor wedge members which are so constructed as to be readily andconvenisently applied to the channeled frame or chassls members of theautomobile and which, when applied, will be securely and o positivelymaintained in desired position.

' Further objects 'of my invention will be apparent from the disclosuresshown in the accompanying drawings-and specification, in which drawingsFigure 1 is-a top plan view of a half portion of the improved automobilebumper of this invention illustrating the novel attachmeans appliedthereto and in conjunction with a rtion ofan automobile side frame orchass1s,it being understood that the opposite firame side is intended tobe substantially similar to the half rtion shown.

Figure 2 is a si e view of the device as illustrated in Figure 1,portions being shown in section and. taken along the line 22 of Figure1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view, similar to Figure 4 but illustrating amodification of the invention.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 33 of Figure 2, lookingin the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 5 is a detail perspective view illustrating the modified U shapedattaching clamp plate as shown in Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a detail perspective view illustrating the preferred Vshaped attaching clamp plate as shown in Figure 4.

In said drawings, the reference numeral 10 indicates generally a portionof an automobile chassis having a side frame of "the extending portionas illustrated at 14 being substantially parallel to the main portion ofthe bar 12.

A suitable opening is provided in the end of the inwardly bent portion14 and through this opening is passed a bolt 16 rovided with suitablewashers 18 and a retaining nut 20which bolt also passes through acorresponding opening in a short member 22,

formed in a zigzag shape as illustrated in Figure 1, having its otherend adapted to cooperate with a section of the main bar 12.

Fitted between the inner end of the zi zag member 22 and a cooperatingportion 0 the main bar 12, is the end of an extending arm 24 adapted tosupport the bumper impact bar in position. Suitable retaining means inthe form of a bolt 26 are provided at this point and the bolt passesthrough respective openings in the end of the member 22, the outer endof the supporting bracket element 24 and through the main bar 12.

The rearward end of the supporting arm or extending member 24 ispreferably bentwit justing we go bolt, the arm being fitted with anumber of drilled holes to engage therewith. One of these holes maybeprovided at a point closely approximating the begin-.

ning of the downwardly bent portion 28 and is ada ted for the receptionof a bolt means 31 suc as is indicated in Figures 1 and 2, which boltmay be fitted with a retaining nut 32 and a wedge element 35, thepreferred construction of which is best illustrated in detail b Figure4.

The downwar ly extending portion 28 of the supporting element 24 isfurther fitted with a series of adjacent openings like those shown at 42in Figure- 2 and through any one of these openings a bolt such as 31 isadapted to selectively pass and this bolt is suitably fitted with awedge and flange clamping element, all of which will presently befurther described in connection with the similar bolt 31. It will beevident that the positioning of the bolt 31 in any one of the series ofholes 42 will result in a corresponding raising or lowering of theimpact bar 12 about the fulcrum bolt 31 whereby the height and relationof the bum er with respect to the automobile may e accurately adjustedif desired.

As illustrated in Figs. 4 and 6, a V sha ed clam plate is intended tocooperate a suita le wedge means and the divergent legs of said plateare respectively esignated as 36 and 36 One such leg is disposed toreach beneath and extend inward of the edge region of one of the channelflanges 11 to engage its inner surface such as 11, While the other'plate1e is set on an incline and disposed outwar 1y relative to the outerflange surface 11 and form an acute angle therewith.

Inter osed within said divergent legs is the we ge member 35 equipt witha beveled face 35 slidably fitted to the adjacent plate side of theoverhung leg 36 said wedge also has a complementary horizontal wedgeface 36 adapted to adjustably ride upon said outer flange clampingsurface 11 Opposite the beveled end of said wedge member there isfurther provided a vertical abutment face 35 adapted to adjoin the suport arm or plate 28. The wedge 35 is pre erably provided with a recess35 partially extending lengthwise thereof for the reception of the clampbolt 31 as indicated by otted lines. The inclined plate leg 36 has anaperture 36 of a size that is considerably larger than the diameter ofthe bolt shank which passes therethrough. The

bolt 31 is equipt with an enlarged rectangular head piece or stopportion bearing upon the outer plate side of said apertured clamp legwhich head is designed to allow of limited slip along the leg inclineand to prevent turning while the bolt nut is being manipulated. The rearsupport arm section 28 is preferably mounted upon the threaded end ofthe bolt 31 and disposed against the abutment face 35. \Vhen thereforethe clamp bolt is snugly drawn up by its nut 32, it will properly securethe arm and at the same time serve to draw the wedge 35 toward thecrotch 36 of said V shaped clamp plate.

Said clamp plate 36 is preferably made of slightly flexible or somewhatspringy material such as is afforded the use of high carbon steel plateor the like, possessing a certain inherent resiliency. It is alsopointed out that the acute angle of divergence initially formed betweenthe plate legs 36 and 36 is preferably made somewhat smaller than thatgiven to the beveled face 35* as measured with respect to its bottomwedge face 36 This improved disposition of the coacting clamp memberscauses the extreme end of the underslung plate leg 36 to first bearagainst the inner flange surface 11 while the remainder of said leg andespecially that portion adjacent to the clamp-crotch, is initially madeto stand off and spring away from said flange surface. The drawing up ofthe wedge 35 will further cause the clamp legs to be spread apartsomewhat and make their divergence conform to the larger angle given tosaid wedge bevel, thereby closing the initial gap betweent the leg 36and the flange surface 11 and moving the resultant clamp load near tothe crotch 36. As a result, a well distributed and a slightly yieldingtight grip pressure will be broughttobear upon both the inner and outerflange surfaces 11 and 11. The described V flange clamp device offers afurther import-ant advantage in that its inclined plate leg 36 bearsdirectly upon and is evenly reenforced by the beveled wedge face 35;hence the clamp plate 36 need not be made excessively heavy and maysafely be given the required degree of resiliency without suffering fromabnormal deflection'orotherwise unduly straining the clamp material.

A modified clamping device is illustrated in Figs. 3 and 5, where theclamping plate 38 is formed into a U shaped member comprising a yokeelement 38 This yoke is provided with a squared aperture 40 which inthis instance is intended to snugly receive the squared shank portion ofa carriage bolt 30 in the fashion shown. It will be observed that saidyoke is subjected to direct bending action as an unsupported beam spanand that this modified arrangement does not take care 6! the bclt'losdto the same advantage as is worded by the V shaped clamp previouslydescribed. However, the flexible clamp plate 38 may likewise be equiptwith an a undmslung leg 38 adapted to grip the flan e surface 11 and aninclined '38 WlllGh slidatiy engages the bevel face 8 "o l the anodifiwedge 34, the plate M initially offset and properly m fiaped to causeitsextreme end to first contact with the inner channel flange surface.it'will be evident that the yielding clamping efieet produced by drawingup the wedge adjusting bolt will then be sub mially identical withthataiforded by the preferred clamp device shown in Figure 4. Theherein-disclosed automobile bumper is 6f simple yet strong and durableconstruction composed of a minimum of parts not go likely to work loose,rattle, or get out of order. Fm'thermore, the attaching means micularprovide an improved and efiecmethod for positivelyaflixing the bumper toan automobile chassis without 5 the. use of an special tools and withoutthe necessity of rilling holes or otherwise inserting ecial fasteningelements into the automobi e frame parts. "fie described resilientfashion of attachingbumper bracket arms to a chassis frame .flange,allows my improved clamp to readaccommodate itself to surfaceirregularhues and facilitates the holding of a tight upon such channelflanges. Should bumper impact bar suddenly strike an, obstruction orotherwise be called upon to perform its intended function in collisionor similar emergency, the flange clamp might thereby be forced to .slipback against a virtually sustained grip resistance but the reabsorptionwork will then correigiondingly exert a strong retarding effect inlessening the shock imposed by the moving carpal-ts. 1

I am aware that many changes may be made in the described embodiment ofmy "invention and the details of construction varied throughout a widerange without departing from the underlying principles of thisinvention, and I therefore do not purpose limiting the patent grantedhereon otherwise than as necessitated by the prior art.

Claims:

'1. An automobile bumper, including in combination, a transverselyextending bar, each end of said bar being bent rearwardly and thenceinwardly in parallel relation to the main portion of said bar, bracingelements aflixed to the end of each of said inmud extensions, each ofsaid bracing elements comprisin a member having offset ends, one of saiends attached to said inextending end and the other and adapted tocooperate with the main portion of the bumper bar, and means coopcratingwith the bracing elements for attaching'the bumper to an automobile.

2. An automobile bumper, including in combination, a transverselyextending bar, each end of said bar being bent rearwardly and thenceinwardly in parallel relation to the main portionof said bar, a bracingelement aflixed to the free end of said inward extension, said bracingelement comprisin a member having offset ends, one of said ends attachedto said inwardly extending end and the other end adapted to cooperatewith the main portion of the bumper bar, and means for attaching thebumper to an automobile, said means comprising a sup port member affixedto the bumper at the junction of the aforesaid bracing means with thebumper.

3. In an automobile bumper, a support, means for attaching the same to achassis, including angle shaped clamping members adapted to cooperatewith the channel frame of said chassis, and means for mounting saidangle shaped members on the bumper support, said means comprisingshackle bolts passing through thesupport and said angle members, sleevessurrounding the shanks of said bolts, and inclined faces on the ends ofsaid sleevesadapted to cooperate with the aforesaid angle shapedclamping members.

4. In bracket fastening means for attaching a vehicle bumper to achassis of which the frame is equipt with an overhung flange havingcomplementary clamping surfaces, a bumper supporting arm; a V shapedclam plate having divergent leg portions of w ich one such leg engagesthe edge region of one flange surface while the other leg is aperturedand has both of its plate sides disposed in a common inclined relationto the complementary surface of said flange; an interposed wedge memberhaving one face adjustably mounted upon said complementary flangesurface and a beveled face slidably engaging the adjacent plate side ofsaid inclined leg and adapted to reenforce said leg in the region of theaperture; clamping means extending through the beveled face of saidwedge member and also said leg aperture to engage the opposite plateside of said inclined leg, said means being adapted to draw said wedgetoward the' crotch of said V plate and bring a tight clamp grip to bearupon both surfaces of said flange; and means for mounting the bumper armupon said bolt and securing the same thereto. p

5. Inbracket fastening means for attaching a vehicle bumper to a chassisof which the frame is equipt with an overhung flange havingcomplementary surfaces, a V-shaped clamp plate 'havin divergent legportions of which one suc leg engages the edge region of one flangesurface while the other plate leg is apertured and has both of its platesides disposed in a common inclined relation to the complementarysurface of said flange; an interposed wedge member having one faceadjustably mounted upon said complementary flange surface and a beveledface slidably engaging the adjacent late side of said inclined leg andadap to reenforce said leg in the region of its aperture, said wedgebeing further rovided with an abutment face; a clamping t having a shankextending through the beveled face of the wedge and also said legaperture and further having a headed portion adapted to bear against theopposite plate side of said inclined leg; a bracket arm adjoined to saidwedge abutment face and serving to support said bumper, said arm havinga hole therethrough to receive the bolt shank; and nut means thrustingagainst the arm and engaging the free end of said bolt shank serving todraw said Wedge toward the crotch of said V plate and bring a tightyielding clamp grip to bear upon both surfaces of said channel flange.6. In a vehicle bumper in combination with chassis side frames of whicheach is equipt with an overhanging flange having complementary clampingsurfaces, a bumper supporting arm; a V-shaped clamp plate havingdivergent leg portions of which one such is disposed to extend inwardfor engagement with the edge region of one flange surface while theother leg is apertured and has both of its plate sides disposed in acommon inclined overhung relation to the complementary surface of saidflange; a; wedge having convergent faces substantially corresponding tothe angle of divergence of the clamp plate legs, said wedge beinginterposed between the adjacent side of said overhung inclined leg andsaid comlementary flange surface; a clamping bolt having a shankextending through one face of the wedge and also said aperture of theinclined leg, said shank having a stop abutting the opposite plate sideof said inclined leg and also a stop outside of the wedge member at theopposite end of said bolt, one of said stops being a nut whereby saidwedge may be drawn toward the plate crotch and said three parts, namelythe clamp plate, Wedge and bolt are made to bring a tight clamp grip tobear upon both surfaces of said channel flange; and means for mountingthe bumper support arm upon said bolt and securing the same thereto.

7. In a vehicle bumper in combination with chassis side frames of whicheach is equipt with an overhanging flange having complementary clampingsurfaces, a bumper supporting arm; a V shaped clamp plate havindivergent leg portions of which one such is disposed to extend inwardfor enwedge having convergent faces corresponding to the angle ofdivergence of the clamp plate legs, said wedge being interposed betweenthe adjacent side of said overhung inclined leg and said complementaryflange surface; a clamping bolt having a shank extending through one ofthe faces of the Wedge and also said aperture of the inclined leg, saidshank having a headed portion adapted to engage the opposite plate sideof said inclined leg and co-acting therewith to prevent turning of theshank and further having nut means for the free end of said shankadapted to draw said wedge toward the crotch of said V plate to bring atight yielding clamp grip to bear upon both surfaces of said flange; andmeans for mounting the bumper support arm upon said bolt and securingthe same thereto.

8. In a vehicle bumper in combination with chassis side frames of whicheach-is equipt with an overhanging flange having complementary surfaces,a bumper supporting arm; a flexible V-shaped clamp plate havingdivergent leg portions of which one such is disposed to extend inwardfor grip ping engagement with the edge region of one flange surfacewhile the other legis upertured and has both of its plate sides disposedin an inclined overhung relation to the complementary surface of saidflange; a wedge equipt with convergent faces initially having an angleof divergence that is somewhat smaller than that between the clamp platelegs, said wedge being interposed between the adjacent side of saidoverhung inclined leg and said complementary flange surface; a boltextending through the Wedge and said aperture of the inclined leg, saidbolt having a stop abutting the outer face of said inclined leg and alsoa stop outside of the wedge member at the opposite end of said bolt, oneof said stops being a nut whereby said clamp plate legs may be sprungapart while the wedge is being drawn toward the plate crotch to bring atight and substantially distributed yielding grip to bear along theengaged surface in said edge region of said. one flange; and means formounting the bumper support arm upon said bolt and securing the samethereto,

9. In fastening means for attaching a vehicle bumper arm to a chassisside frame beam of channel shaped cross-sectional profile having a pairof flanges inter-connected v by a web, said means comprising a pair ofclamp devices disposed to grip the respective spaced flanges of saidchannel and each such device comprising a flexible V shaped clam platehaving divergent leg portions of Whicli one such 1e enga s the ed eregion of one of the inne flang e surfaces while the other leg thereofis apertured and has both of its plate sides disposed in a commoninclined overhung relation with respect to the complementary outersurface of said one flange; an interposed wedge member having a faceadjustably mounted upon said outer flange surface and also a beveledface adapted to fit and slidably engage the adjacent plate side of saidinclined leg; clamping means extending through both the wedge member andsaid eg aperture to engage the opposite plate side of said inclined leg,said means being adapted to draw said wedge toward the crotch of said Vplate and spring apart the legs thereof to bring a tight yielding fit tobear upon both sides of the aforesaid one flange; a bumper arm of whichone end portion is secured to the bumper and the other end thereof isdisposed across the planes of they respective channel flanges, saidother arm end being provided with a hole to receive the wedge boltclamping one of said flanges and also with hole means for selectivelyengaging the wedge bolt clamping the other of said flanges; and meansfor locking the bumper arm upon said pair of spaced wedge bolts.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

CHARLES E. KRAUS.

